I may have been slightly naive in going to a physiotherapist. I had assumed they were genuine medical practitioners of some sort, but now I'm not so sure.

Is there any evidence for trigger points, what they are and how pressing on them helps?

I starting to think this is related to myofacial release, which is quackery.

I'll be mildly embarrassed if I've been suckered out of £92, but I'd rather know.

A bit unfair as obviously physio's are medical practitioners but it is a broad church. Also, you perhaps wouldn't doubt an orthopedic surgeon yet operations with dubious evidence of satisfactory outcomes often occur.

I may have been slightly naive in going to a physiotherapist. I had assumed they were genuine medical practitioners of some sort, but now I'm not so sure.

Is there any evidence for trigger points, what they are and how pressing on them helps?

I starting to think this is related to myofacial release, which is quackery.

I'll be mildly embarrassed if I've been suckered out of £92, but I'd rather know.

Based on my experience dry needling of trigger points in the calf worked for me. I was sceptical beforehand but it got me back up and running.
_________________2017 Races Green Man Ultra, Conti thunder Run (solo), Dart 10k swim

I'm a big believer of them, for a lot of things, granted some people will oversell them but I get a lot of tight muscles\knots and that kind of manipulation works well for me as treatment.

For others and different injuries then they might not be as useful, also depends on the practioner.

I go to one physio who has worked at several pro football clubs and he's a good physio without doing much manipulation, in fairness a current tendon problem in my toe wouldn't respond as well to that kind of treatment. But sometimes when it is coming from tight muscles and the physio finds the spot then it really helps.

I know a lot of my own trigger points these days and can help ward off quite a few minor niggles, shame about the two I've had since Christmas but marathon training didn't help

It boils down to efficacy and perhaps your ability to differentiate that from placebo.

My partner and I are both research biologists. We both studied and qualified in basic massage, seeing plenty of non/poor/patchy science there but some valuable effect. She took a step further to qualify in sports massage, seeing plenty more of the same but more valuable effect (for me in particular). A mutual friend went one step further to qualify as sports therapist, guess what, more of the same in terms of science but also of effect.

It boils down to efficacy and perhaps your ability to differentiate that from placebo.

My partner and I are both research biologists. We both studied and qualified in basic massage, seeing plenty of non/poor/patchy science there but some valuable effect. She took a step further to qualify in sports massage, seeing plenty more of the same but more valuable effect (for me in particular). A mutual friend went one step further to qualify as sports therapist, guess what, more of the same in terms of science but also of effect.

Physiotherapy is quite distinct and, as stated, less hands-on generally speaking. Still valuable if you find a good sports-orientated one, but massage/sports therapy is most probably your best first step.

I largely agree other than to say there are plenty of hands on physio's. I know a few sports therapists that have moved on to be physio's or osteopaths.